Alright, I'm hoping that I can clearly explain what my question is.  So let me start by stating what I'm looking for, along with what I hope my end result will be.  The problem is that even though I've been using midi/workstations for YEARS, I'm still very much ignorant when it comes to creating patches & sounds, as well as using VST soft synths.
 
Looking For:  A soft synth that will fit my needs.  I didn't want to go with Reason just because everyone else is using it.  (Plus, can I even use it with Sonar?)  I've also checked out Omnisphere, Absynth, & Diva.  I'd REALLY like to stay in the $200-$300.
 
End Result:  I'm currently using Sonar 8 and I recently built my own DAW PC.  I'm using my Roland Fantom as a MIDI controller (not ideal, but it'll work for now).  What I'd LIKE to be able to do - but I'm not sure it's possible or whether it makes sense is  1.) create/manipulate sounds/patches at home for my own projects (songs, beats/grooves, bedtracks, etc.) using softsynths; &  2.)  transfer my creations (whether as patches or samples) to be able to play them live with my band USING MY FANTOM.  Is that possible?  Or do I have to have a laptop set up beside me?  Or is there an app I can use for my iPad that can get me from point A to point B?
 
The more I write, the more I realize I just want more flexibility in what I'm creating & to be able to use that live with my Fantom as well as at home in Sonar 8.  I don't want to just spend the $$$$ on Fantom expansion packs. I'm probably all over the map right now, but that's only because I've hit a brick wall in researching all this stuff.  I love research, but when you don't know exactly what to search for it's tough.  I'm just hoping there's someone that sees this and says,"Hey, I know exactly what this freak's trying to do!"
 
Thanks!

You've got two choices: 1) use the Fantom's patches for everything, or 2) use a laptop or Muse Receptor onstage. (Option 2A: use an iPad-type device.)

Option 1 has the advantage of reliability. The odds of a synth breaking down at a gig are much, much less than the odds of a laptop dying.

Option 2 has the advantage of having a huge variety of synths and samples available to you.

Option 1's downside: you're stuck with the Fantom's factory patches.

Option 2's downside: setting up or swtiching patches between (or during) songs is a PIA on a laptop.

bitflipper


You've got two choices: 1) use the Fantom's patches for everything, or 2) use a laptop or Muse Receptor onstage. (Option 2A: use an iPad-type device.)

Option 1 has the advantage of reliability. The odds of a synth breaking down at a gig are much, much less than the odds of a laptop dying.

Option 2 has the advantage of having a huge variety of synths and samples available to you.

Option 1's downside: you're stuck with the Fantom's factory patches.

Option 2's downside: setting up or swtiching patches between (or during) songs is a PIA on a laptop.

I haven't used it myself, but it's my understanding that using something such as Cantable makes it easy to switch patches live.  However, I would think you'd need to know your show ahead of time so that you know which patches to program into Cantable for live use which might be a downside if you're choosing patches on the fly (which I try NOT to do myself).
 
Jim Roseberry uses Cantable for live patch changes using VST's (I think he uses Komplete) on a small form factor PC.
http://www.cantabilesoftware.com/

Sonar comes w/ some good synths - Dimpro, Rapture and some others.  Have you checked them out?

As far as using it live - see Bit above.  As long as you have a back up system (ie. all fantom songs in memory) you could use a laptop or one of those shuttle computers.

@

Thank you guys so much for the quick reply and the great feedback!

I've decided that I definitely don't want to be stuck with the Fantom's factory patches, so I'm gonna have to go with Option 2.  However, I'd REALLY like to know if that's something I can use my iPad for rather than a laptop?

Also, I'm not familiar at all with Cantable and what it's function is, so I'll check it out.

AT:  Yeah, I checked the soft synths that came with Sonar, which is what go me on this kick in the first place.  I love 'em, I just wanted to see what else was out there and see if soft synths like Komplete, Diva, Omnisphere, etc. were more robust than what Sonar came with.

What about OPTION 3 ???

Make your own sounds with the Fantom. Forget about the factory sounds. There's a lot of synth there to exploit, not to mention the Fantom's sampling capabilities. You've got all kinds of potential right there with the Fantom. Roll up your sleeves and dig in. You don't need to buy anything.

Cantable is a VST host whose specific function is to run VST's (both FX and instruments) for live performance.  you can set up song sets and switch between different patches on the fly (for the professional version).

as far as running something like that on an iPad - I don't know.  I'm about to buy an iPad and my current plan is to use a MIDI controller software on the iPad to send patch change information to my keyboards and MIDI FX processor in the rack.

This set up is similar to using an FCB1010 - which is what I have now.  But the FCB1010 is cumbersome compared to doing the same thing with scrollable patch changes using an iPad app.

Bonzos Ghost


What about OPTION 3 ???

Make your own sounds with the Fantom. Forget about the factory sounds. There's a lot of synth there to exploit, not to mention the Fantom's sampling capabilities. You've got all kinds of potential right there with the Fantom. Roll up your sleeves and dig in. You don't need to buy anything.

I've thought about that, and I really appreciate you suggesting that.  My only question is do you think that the Fantom's capabilities can at least play on the same block as the other soft synth's out there?  I'll admit that I've probably not even used 70% of the Fantom's potential, but at the same time I've found that creating sounds/beats/grooves via a VST is a whole heck of a lot easier than doing so on a Fantom.  Does it have the same tools/interface?  Maybe I just need to toy around with it a bit.  

I've used a MIDI programmer onstage before, back when I thought I was Rick Wakeman and needed to set up multiple synths quickly. It's great IF you always work from rigid set lists. 

But after nearly half a century of gigging I get bored easily and have come to hate repetition. I no longer use set lists, preferring to be able to change things up on the fly, even trying different patches mid-song for variety. It doesn't bother me that I don't have all my Kontakt instruments at hand; such subtleties would be lost on live audiences anyway. 

That's why I use a conventional hardware rompler for live performance. 

I'm not sure I know what a "conventional Rompler" is?